Stacking containers



y 1959 R. GUYER 2,885,137

STACKING CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 21, 1956 v 3 Sheefts-Sheet 1 INVENTORReyna/0's Guyer ATTORNEY May 5, 1959 R. GUYER STACKING CONTAINERS 3Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed Feb. 21, 1956 INVENTOR Reyna/0's Gaye)" ATTORNEY y1959 R. GUYER STACKING CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 21. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Reyna/0's INVENTOR Guger ATTORNEY United States Patent 6 STACKIN GCONTAINERS Reynolds Guyer, White Bear Lake, Minn., assignor to WaldorfPaper Products Company, Wabash, Minn., a corporation of MinnesotaApplication February 21, 1956, Serial No. 566,884

6 Claims. (Cl. 229-6) This invention relates to an improvement incontainers and deals particularly with a type of container possessinghigh stacking strength.

In recent years, it has become common practice to package chickens,turkeys and the like, in paperboard containers. The containers and thecontents are then placed in a freezer and the contents are thoroughlyfrozen at a low temperature. During this operation and during thesubsequent storage, the containers are stacked in relatively high pilesin order to conserve freezer space. The. present container isconstructed to accomplish these results.

A feature of the present invention resides in the, provision of a simplecontainer, which is formed as a, two. piece telescope box including abody portion and a cover. The body portion of the container is providedwith side walls having portions of reduced height. Accordingly when thecontents are placed in the container and. they containers are stackedone upon the other, the sides of the container are partially open topermit a free circulation of air. As a result, the contents are quicklyfrozen.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of acontainer having triangular corner posts which are formed in a uniquemanner. The end walls of the container are provided with flaps which mayfold outwardly of the end portions of the side walls These flaps areprovided with a slit in their lower edge, these slits or slots beingdesigned to accommodate the reduced height portions of the side walls.The ends of the flaps on the end walls are then folded diagonally of thecorners of the container and are stitched back upon the end walls so asto provide a container possessing high stacking strength.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of acontainer having side walls which are only a part of the height of theremainder of the body portion of the container. The portions of the sidewalls, which would normally continue to the full height of thecontainer, are folded down inwardly of the side walls and may beattached thereto to strengthen the side walls materially.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that inthe preferred form of construction, the cover of the container is formedsimilarly to the bottom insofar as the side walls of reduced height areconcerned. As a result, the bodies of the containers may be tele scopedinto the inverted covers during the freezing and storing of the goods orat least during the freezing op-.

eration. When the covers are inverted and telescoped onto the bodies ofthe containers, the side walls of the two parts overlap to form a sideclosure.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willhe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container in closed conditionthereof.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cover in inverted position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the body of the container with thecover removed.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view through an end. wall of thecontainer and through the triangular corner posts at opposite endsthereof.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from. which the cover isformed.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the blank, from which the body of thecontainer is formed.

Figure 7 is perspective view of a. modified. form. of container body.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the blank. from. which the containerbody portion shownin Figure 7 is formed.

The container is indicated in. general by the letter A and includes atop portion 10 and a body or bottomportion 11. In closed po-stion of thecontainer, the two parts are telescoped together.

The container top is formed as will bev seen in Fig-' ure 5 of thedrawings. The container top includes a top panel 12, which is foldablyconnected along parallel fold lines 13 and 14 to side wall panels 15 and16. The top. panel, 12 is also connected along parallel fold lines 17and 19 tov end wall panels 20 and, 21 respectively. The top panel 12 ispreferably rectangular in form and the fold lines 17 and 19 intersectthe fold lines 13 and 14 at substantially right angles.

The side walls 15 and 16 are foldably connected along extensions of thefold line 17 to end flaps 22. and 23. These side wall panels 15 and 16.are also connected along extensions of the fold line 19 to end flaps 24and '25-respectively. When the top is erected, the flaps 22 and 23 foldinwardly of the end wall 20 and are stitched or otherwise securedthereto. The flaps 24 and 25 are similarly folded into surface contactwith the end wall 21 and are attached thereto.

As is indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings, a handle hole 26 isprovided in the end wall 20 and a similar handle hole 27 is provided inthe end wall 21. These hand holes provide a means by which the cover maybe lifted. The side wall panels 15 and 16 are notched as indicated intheir upper edges intermediate the ends of the side walls. The notches29 and 30 extend throughout the major portion of the length of the sidewall panels but terminate short of the fold lines 17 and 19. Thesenotches 29 and 30 are. usually slightly less than onehalf the height ofthe side walls, this arrangement being made. so that the side walls ofthe cover and body portion will overlap when the container is closed.

The body portion 11 of the container is constructed as is bestillustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. This body portion includes abottom panel 31 which is foldably connected along opposed parallel foldlines 32 and 33 to side wall panels 34 and 35. The bottom panel 31 isalso foldably connected along parallel fold lines 36 and 37 to end wallpanels 39 and 40 respectively. The fold lines 36 and 37 are usually atright angles to the fold lines 32 and 33.

A pair of spaced out lines 41 and 42 extend into each of, the side wallpanels 34 and 35-, the cut lines extending parallel to the ends of theside Wall panels and spaced therefrom a relatively short distance. Foldlines '43 which are parallel to the fold lines 32 and 33, connect theinner ends of the out lines 41 and 42. Accordingly, the area between thecut lines 41 and 42, the fold line 43 stitches 45 or by other suitablemeans.

wall 39 along extensions of the fold lines Flap structures 47 arefoldably connected end panel 40 along extensions of these fold 32 33.These. flap structures 46 and 47 are but opposed and include severalsections which flap structures 46 include three panels 49, 50 and SI,which are foldably connected along parallel fold lines The panels 49 aredesigned to lie outwardly the end portions of the side wall panels 34and 35 and -be in surhcecontact therewith. The panels 50 are designedtoextend diagonally across the corners of the oontainer from the side wallto the inner surface of the endwsll. The panels 51 are designed toextend in surface contact withthe inner surface of the end wall 39.Stitches 54 or other suitable means are provided for holdilll 51 insurface contact with the end panel 39. Nmhes 55* are provided in theunder sides of theflap structures, these notches being designed toaccommodate the reduced height portions of the side walls 34 and 35formed by folding inwardly the flaps 44. As a result, flmpanelsl forminga part of the flapstructures 46, may lie outwardly of the sidewalls andthe remaining panels 5. and. 51 of the flap structures may be enclosedwithin In other words, the flap structures actually interlock with theside walls and strengthen the ssmeconsidersbly.

Thmflapstructures 47sre identical with the flap structures 46 peviouslydescribed. These members 47 include fltree: panels. 56, 57 and .59,which are foldahly connected alolllpsrlllel fold. lines 60 and 61.Notches 62 are provided in the lower edge of the flap structures 47.substantiallyin alignment with the fold lines 60. Theseinotchcs aredesigned to aecommodatethe reduced height portionsofthesidemvalls'u'andflsothat the panels56maylie of the ends of the sidewalls and the panels 57 and 59; may extend within the body of thecontainer.

. From the foregoing description, it should be clear that when the coverportion of the container is inverted, as shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings, the body portion 11 may be placed therein in a manner to forma double tray possessingconsiderable strength. The material to becontained suchas a series of chickens or turkeys, are then placed withinthe containers and the containers are stacked one above the other onskids and placed in a cold storage room. Due to the openings in thesides of the containers, the air msycirculate freely about the contents,thus percontents to freeze more quickly than if the containers wereclosed.

After the desired freezing period, the containers may be :re-stacked.During this re-stacking operation, the cover, is removed from the bottomof the container and is placedoverthe top of the body portion totelescope intothe condition shown in Figure l of the drawings. The sidewalls of the two parts of the container are preferably so proportionedthat these side walls overlap when the container is closed.

InFigures 7 and 8 of the drawings, I disclose the lower portion of acontainer B, which may be used in place of the container A. Thecontainer B is very similar in construction to the containerA, but theside walls are cut down to a more marked degree. As a result, thenotches in the side walls of the cover portion are extremely shallow orare entirely eliminated. When containers, such as B are used, the goodsto be frozen are first placed in the body portion illustrated in Figure7 and frozen. The cover of the containers are applied at the end of theWIOIL;

, As. shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, the container body 8 includes abottom panel 63, which is foldably connected islong parallel fold lines64 and 65 to side wall panels 66 and 67. The bottom panel 63 is alsoconnected along parallel fold lines 69 and 70 to end wall panels .71 and72. Each sidewall panel 66 and 67 is 2,sss,1a'r

structures 46 are foldably connected to i 4 is provided with a pair ofparallel cut lines 73 and 74, which extend downwardly parallel to theends of the side walls. These cut lines 73 and 74 preferably terminateinwardly and downwardly divergingcut line portions 75 and 76respectively. A fold line 77 extends between the ends of the cut lines75 and 76 and a parallel fold line 79 extends the length of the flap 80,which is defined between the cut lines described for a purpose whichwill be later described. The fold line 77 is preferably midway betweenthe fold line 64 and the fold line 79.

When the side walls of the container are erected, the flap 80 betweenthe side walls 77 and 79, is folded to overlie the portion of the sidewall beneath the flap and the flap portion 81 between the fold line 79and the upper edge of the side wall is folded to overlie the bottompanel 63. Stitches such as 82 (see Figure 7) hold these parts in theirproper relation.

The end walls 71 and 72 are provided with end flap structures 83 and 84respectively, which are substantially the juncture between the panels 89and 90. These notches are designed to accommodate the double thicknessportion of the side-walls, one of which has been described in detail. 6

The side wall 67 is constructed similarly to the side wall 66 andincludes spaced parallel cut lines 94 and 95 having inwardly divergingextremities. Fold lines 96 and 97 fold the area between the cut lines 94and 95 into a first flap 99 and a second flap 100. In folded condition.of the container, the flap 99 is folded against the inner surface ofthe portion of the side wall 67 immediately below the fold line 96 andthe flap 100 overlies the bottom panel 63 and is attached thereto bymeans of the stitches 82.

The flap structures 83' and 84 thus interlock with the side walls. Thepanels 86 and extend diagonally across the corners of the container andthe flaps 87 and 91 are stitched to the inner surface of the end walls71 and 72 to provide triangular corner posts. Stitches such as 101, areemployed for securing the flaps 87 and 91 to the end walls 71 and 72. t

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my stacking container, and while I haveendeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to haveit understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of thefollowing claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

I. A stacking container body including a bottom panel, end wallsextending upwardly from opposite ends of said bottom panel, side wallsextending upwardly from opposite sides of said bottom panel, notchesformed in the upper edges of said side walls forming intermediateportions of reduced height, said notches terminating in spaced relationto the ends of said side walls to provide side wall portions of fullheight adjoining said end walls, flap structures hingedly connected tothe ends of said end walls, said flap structures including first panelsextending outwardly of the full height portions of said side walls,second panels extending diagonally across the corners of the container,and means securing said diagonally extending panels in diagonalcondition, said flap structures having notches of a length equal to theheight of said intermediate side wall portions in their lower edges atthe juncture between said first panels and said diagonally extendingpanels, saidnotches accommodah;

ing the portions of said side walls beneath the ends of said notches.

2. The construction described in claim 1 and in which said notches insaid side walls are formed by providing cut lines near opposite ends ofthe side walls, and folding a portion of the side wall between said cutlines downwardly and inwardly into surface contact with the innersurfaces of the side walls.

3. The construction described in claim 1 and in which the means forholding said diagonally extending panels in proper position includespanels secured to the diagonally extending panelsand means attachingsaid last named panels in surface contact with said end walls.

4. A stacking container body including a bottom panel, end wallsextending upwardly from opposite ends of said bottom panel, side walls;extending upwardly from opposite sides of said bottom panel, notchesformed in the upper edges of said sidewalls, said notches being formedby providing cut linesnear opposite ends of said side walls and foldinga portion of the side walls between said cut lines downwardlyand'inwardly into surface contact with the inner surfaces of the sidewalls, said notches terminating in spaced relation to the ends of saidside walls, flap structures hingedly connected to the ends of said endwalls, said fiapstructures extending diagonally across the corners ofthe container, means securing said diagonally extending panels indiagonal condition including panels secured to said" diagonallyextending panels and means attaching saidlast named panels in surfacecontact with said end walls, said flap structures having notches at thejuncture between said first panels and said diagonally extending panels,said notches accommodating the portions of said side walls beneath theends of said notches.

5. A stacking container body including a bottom panel, end wallsextending upwardly from opposite ends of said bottom panel, side wallsextending upwardly from opposite sides of said bottom panel, notchesformed in the upper edges of said side walls, said notches being formedby providing cut lines near opposite ends of said side walls and foldinga portion of the side walls between said cut lines downwardly andinwardly into surface contact with the inner surfaces of the side walls,said notches terminating in spaced relation to the ends of said sidewalls, flap structures hingedly connected to the ends of said end walls,said flap structures extending diagonally across the corners of thecontainer, means securing said diagonally extending panels in diagonalcondition including panels secured to said diagonally extending panelsand means attaching said last named panels in surface contact with saidend walls, said flap structures having notches at the juncture betweensaid first panels and said diagonally extending panels, said notchesaccommodating the portions of said side walls beneath the ends of saidnotches, a cover designed to telescope onto said container body portion,said cover having a top panel and side and end walls attached theretoand extending downwardly therefrom, said side walls having notchestherein designed to register with the notches in the side walls of thecontainer body portion when said body portion is telescoped into theinverted cover.

6. A stacking container body including a bottom panel, end wallsextending upwardly from opposite ends of said bottom panel, side wallsextending upwardly from opposite sides' of said bottom panel, notchesformed in the upper edges of said side walls, said notches being formedby providing cut lines near opposite ends of said side walls and foldinga portion of the side walls between said cut lines downwardly andinwardly into surface contact with the inner surfaces of the side walls,said=notches terminating in spaced relation to the ends of said sidewalls, flap structures hingedly connected to the ends of said end walls,said flap structures extending diagonally acnoss the corners of thecontainer, means securing said diagonally extending panels in diagonalcondition including panels secured to said diagonally extending panelsand means attaching said last named panels in surface contact with saidend walls, said flap structures having notches at the juncture betweensaid first panels and said diagonally extending panels, said notchesaccommodating the portions of said side walls beneath the ends of saidnotches, the portion of the side wall folded into surface contact withthe inner surfaces of the side walls having con nected thereto panelportions overlying the bottom panel in surface contact therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS780,325 Davidson Jan. 17, 1905 1,653,116 Parks Dec. 20, 1927 1,928,297Mabee Sept. 26, 1933 2,229,425 Tanner Ian. 21, 1941 2,371,046 GregoireMar. 6, 1945 2,686,001 Arnesen Aug. 10, 1954

